According to the OWGR, 12 of the top 30 players in the world are entered this week.

Of Course

The Tournament Course at Redstone was “tricked out” in 2007 to resemble course conditions that the TOUR players would face at Augusta as the Shell Houston Open (SHO) took its new spot on the calendar the week before the Masters. The rationale was to give the players a playing environment similar to what they would face so they would enter the tournament. Even though the tournament is now two weeks before the Masters, it’s still a great opportunity to play in these conditions.

The Tournament Course decided to keep the rough (or “first cut”) at only 1.25” so missing the fairway here shouldn’t lead to many problems. The greens are slightly larger than the ones the players faced last week at Bay Hill yet will be running even quicker as the Stimpmeter has measured 13’ plus. This will be a second-shot course. Missing the green will test the short game of the players as closely-mown areas will be the order of the day instead of thick, gnarly rough. Pitch-and-run? Bump-and-run? Pop a metal? Putt? Flop? All the shots in the bag will need to be on display if GIR aren’t accomplished this week. Once on the lightning-fast bermuda/bent mix, the putters will separate themselves from the pack.

I’ll be looking for those players who are rolling the rock and hitting plenty of greens to be successful this week. With 16-under being the average winning score, those who make the most birdies will be near the top this week. The old axiom continues, though: guys who hit plenty of GIR will have the most chances to make birdie; the guys who make the most putts will make the most birdies! I’m looking for guys who kill the par-fives, make tons of birdies-or-better and can putt and scramble. Sounds easy, right?!?

The Tournament Course has ranked 29th or easiest in four of the last six years out of 50 courses used on TOUR. In 2010 it ranked 14th-most difficult and 22nd in 2011. The average winning score here is 16-under-par and that’s exactly (272) what Hunter Mahan posted last year in his victory. That means birdies will need to be made on the four par-fives and short par-four hole No. 12. The two finishing par-fours are no picnic as both play almost 500 yards each so the players will have to have their birdies on the card before coming home.

Top 10, Plus One

Steve Stricker: We’ve all seen that Stricker is comfortable with his decision to play a limited schedule this year and the proof is in the results. He’s finished second, T5 and second in this three outings this year. Did I mention that the last two were against WGC fields? He’s a great wedge player, even better putter and loves to make birdies. This course should set up nicely for him.

Keegan Bradley: The hottest player on TOUR not named Tiger Woods wrapped up the “Florida Swing” by playing three events and finishing T4, seventh and T3 last week at API. He’s proven he can win in Texas before as he won the 2011 HPBNC before winning the PGA the same year. He destroys par fives and has no problem on or around the greens as evidenced by his victories on fast greens at the PGA and WGC-Bridgestone.

Hunter Mahan: The 2012 champion is having another excellent season even though he hasn’t won yet. His worst two rounds this season, not including the HTOC, have been on Sundays in his last two events so he’s close to breaking out again this year. He shot 74 at WGC-Cadillac to finish T25 and fired 75 on Sunday at API to finish T21. Imagine if those were both 72s…He’s teed it up nine times at Houston and has four top 10 finishes. Automatic.

Brandt Snedeker: He showed us multiple times last year that when he comes back from injury that he usually needs a week to get tuned up before he’s back to his regular game. His 76-76 last week at API shouldn’t deter you this week from taking a look at one of the best players and putters on TOUR this week.

Rory McIlroy: There was a great picture of him hitting balls at a Miami muni late last week. He’s the new generation. He’s going to things differently. Let’s not forget that the last time out he fired 65 at Doral to move into the top 10 against the best field of 2013. He’s hardly washed up and it seems that his wisdom teeth have calmed down for the moment. He’s only played two rounds of six under par here but I think those were when he was a teenager…

Jimmy Walker: The Texan is looking to join Mark Brooks and Johnson Wagner as the only Texans to win this tournament since 1996. Walker has been playing some excellent golf lately and his game has traveled from California to Florida. He’s made 17 cuts in a row and has six top 25s from eight starts this year which included three top 10s. He’s my one-and-done choice this week or next.

Dustin Johnson: The curse of Paulina Gretzky almost wore off in Miami as DJ opened up 68-69 but cooled on the weekend 70-72. He’s opened up 66, 68 in his last two stroke-play events. Now, it’s just a question of putting together four, solid rounds. He hasn’t teed it up here since 2009.

Bill Haas: He’s now recorded four top 10s in 2013 and is currently sixth in GIR. Add in his 7th in scrambling and Haas should be a contender this week regardless of his history at the Tournament Course. His brother is back on his bag and he’s playing well.

Chris Kirk: In his first trip around the Tournament Course, Kirk made 23 birdies and finished T2. He’s currently sixth on TOUR in scoring average, sixth in birdie-or-better conversion and sixth in strokes-gained putting. Wait, that’s 6-6-6. Oh, he’s also sixth in scoring average before the cut. Whew. His short game and ability to make birdies should make him a nice outsider this week.

Lee Westwood: He’s made the cut in all five of his trips to SHO since they moved courses in 2007, including four in a row in the top 30. He was T21 last year, T30 in 2011, T8 in 2010 and T11 in 2009. Westwood takes this week seriously as evidenced by his last four years of finishes at the Masters.

Phil Mickelson: I might just change the “Plus One” category to the “Plus Phil” category. The 2011 champion tore this course to shreds as he posted 20-under 268 on the back of 27 birdies. Last week he fired 73-79 that included a four-putt from five feet! That followed a T3 at Doral. Makes sense, right?!? He was T4 here last year so that helps clear up the confusion as well.

According to the OWGR, 12 of the top 30 players in the world are entered this week.

Of Course

The Tournament Course at Redstone was “tricked out” in 2007 to resemble course conditions that the TOUR players would face at Augusta as the Shell Houston Open (SHO) took its new spot on the calendar the week before the Masters. The rationale was to give the players a playing environment similar to what they would face so they would enter the tournament. Even though the tournament is now two weeks before the Masters, it’s still a great opportunity to play in these conditions.

The Tournament Course decided to keep the rough (or “first cut”) at only 1.25” so missing the fairway here shouldn’t lead to many problems. The greens are slightly larger than the ones the players faced last week at Bay Hill yet will be running even quicker as the Stimpmeter has measured 13’ plus. This will be a second-shot course. Missing the green will test the short game of the players as closely-mown areas will be the order of the day instead of thick, gnarly rough. Pitch-and-run? Bump-and-run? Pop a metal? Putt? Flop? All the shots in the bag will need to be on display if GIR aren’t accomplished this week. Once on the lightning-fast bermuda/bent mix, the putters will separate themselves from the pack.

I’ll be looking for those players who are rolling the rock and hitting plenty of greens to be successful this week. With 16-under being the average winning score, those who make the most birdies will be near the top this week. The old axiom continues, though: guys who hit plenty of GIR will have the most chances to make birdie; the guys who make the most putts will make the most birdies! I’m looking for guys who kill the par-fives, make tons of birdies-or-better and can putt and scramble. Sounds easy, right?!?

The Tournament Course has ranked 29th or easiest in four of the last six years out of 50 courses used on TOUR. In 2010 it ranked 14th-most difficult and 22nd in 2011. The average winning score here is 16-under-par and that’s exactly (272) what Hunter Mahan posted last year in his victory. That means birdies will need to be made on the four par-fives and short par-four hole No. 12. The two finishing par-fours are no picnic as both play almost 500 yards each so the players will have to have their birdies on the card before coming home.

Top 10, Plus One

Steve Stricker: We’ve all seen that Stricker is comfortable with his decision to play a limited schedule this year and the proof is in the results. He’s finished second, T5 and second in this three outings this year. Did I mention that the last two were against WGC fields? He’s a great wedge player, even better putter and loves to make birdies. This course should set up nicely for him.

Keegan Bradley: The hottest player on TOUR not named Tiger Woods wrapped up the “Florida Swing” by playing three events and finishing T4, seventh and T3 last week at API. He’s proven he can win in Texas before as he won the 2011 HPBNC before winning the PGA the same year. He destroys par fives and has no problem on or around the greens as evidenced by his victories on fast greens at the PGA and WGC-Bridgestone.

Hunter Mahan: The 2012 champion is having another excellent season even though he hasn’t won yet. His worst two rounds this season, not including the HTOC, have been on Sundays in his last two events so he’s close to breaking out again this year. He shot 74 at WGC-Cadillac to finish T25 and fired 75 on Sunday at API to finish T21. Imagine if those were both 72s…He’s teed it up nine times at Houston and has four top 10 finishes. Automatic.

Brandt Snedeker: He showed us multiple times last year that when he comes back from injury that he usually needs a week to get tuned up before he’s back to his regular game. His 76-76 last week at API shouldn’t deter you this week from taking a look at one of the best players and putters on TOUR this week.

Rory McIlroy: There was a great picture of him hitting balls at a Miami muni late last week. He’s the new generation. He’s going to things differently. Let’s not forget that the last time out he fired 65 at Doral to move into the top 10 against the best field of 2013. He’s hardly washed up and it seems that his wisdom teeth have calmed down for the moment. He’s only played two rounds of six under par here but I think those were when he was a teenager…

Jimmy Walker: The Texan is looking to join Mark Brooks and Johnson Wagner as the only Texans to win this tournament since 1996. Walker has been playing some excellent golf lately and his game has traveled from California to Florida. He’s made 17 cuts in a row and has six top 25s from eight starts this year which included three top 10s. He’s my one-and-done choice this week or next.

Dustin Johnson: The curse of Paulina Gretzky almost wore off in Miami as DJ opened up 68-69 but cooled on the weekend 70-72. He’s opened up 66, 68 in his last two stroke-play events. Now, it’s just a question of putting together four, solid rounds. He hasn’t teed it up here since 2009.

Bill Haas: He’s now recorded four top 10s in 2013 and is currently sixth in GIR. Add in his 7th in scrambling and Haas should be a contender this week regardless of his history at the Tournament Course. His brother is back on his bag and he’s playing well.

Chris Kirk: In his first trip around the Tournament Course, Kirk made 23 birdies and finished T2. He’s currently sixth on TOUR in scoring average, sixth in birdie-or-better conversion and sixth in strokes-gained putting. Wait, that’s 6-6-6. Oh, he’s also sixth in scoring average before the cut. Whew. His short game and ability to make birdies should make him a nice outsider this week.

Lee Westwood: He’s made the cut in all five of his trips to SHO since they moved courses in 2007, including four in a row in the top 30. He was T21 last year, T30 in 2011, T8 in 2010 and T11 in 2009. Westwood takes this week seriously as evidenced by his last four years of finishes at the Masters.

Phil Mickelson: I might just change the “Plus One” category to the “Plus Phil” category. The 2011 champion tore this course to shreds as he posted 20-under 268 on the back of 27 birdies. Last week he fired 73-79 that included a four-putt from five feet! That followed a T3 at Doral. Makes sense, right?!? He was T4 here last year so that helps clear up the confusion as well.

Don’t Overlook

John Senden: Stop me if you have heard this with Senden before: He’s made all five cuts since 2006 at the Tournament Course. He’s never finished better than T18 or worse than T31. #payforwhatyouget

Cameron Tringale: He’s starting to heat up as he finished third in Tampa and was pushing for a top 10 at API before a final round 74 saw him fall to T27. He hits plenty of greens and makes plenty of putts and rates eighth in par-five performance. He usually plays hot in patches and he’ll be excited to see a course where he finished T8 last year to kick off a ultra-hot April.

Jordan Spieth: His special membership on TOUR should take off any pressure he felt to have to perform for the rest of the year. Now, he can just focus on fairways and greens and so far, it’s been so good. In his last two events he’s finished T2 and T7 so taking a “risk” on a Texas native is that risky this week. His worst start in five events on both TOURS this year is T22.

Ben Kohles: The rookie has made six cuts from eight starts and has finished T14 and T7 in his last two starts. He hits every fairway and plenty of greens. He’s currently 20th in total putting. Rookies usually don’t fare well here but these young kids don’t remember that golf is hard sometimes!

Bryce Molder: He’s made all seven cuts this year and only has one finish outside of the top 30. His short game is what carries him and he’s currently fifth in par-five performance. He’s 15th in birdie-or-better conversions and has finishes of T18 (2012) and T8 (2010) in his last three appearances at SHO.

Brian Stuard: If you have been reading this column, you are familiar with this name. He’s now made all eight cuts this season and his worst finish is T43. He was T16 last week at API and gave Jimmy Walker and Tiger Woods some excellent support on my GolfChannel Fantasy team. He’s ninth in the all-around ranking. Oh, and he ranks first in par-three scoring and 10th par-five scoring. Oh, and he is 12th in total putting.

Ryan Palmer: The born-and-bred Texan’s game was starting to get moving in the right direction in Florida after a rough February in California. Palmer opened the swing with T41 at The Honda Classic before claiming a T30 at Tampa Bay. He makes his money by killing it off the tee and holing putts. He’ll be eager to get back to Houston as he was right in the middle of things before a final round 76 knocked him back to T21 last year.

Josh Teater: He shook off double hockey sticks Saturday and Sunday at Tampa to rebound for T27 at API last week so that shows me what I need to know about TEATER HEATER. He hits it a mile and makes putts and he loves the Tournament Course. He’s finished T14 in 2010 and T19 in 2011. He was DQ last year after an opening round 76.

Graham DeLaet: He’s had one bad round here in six but it caused him to miss the cut last year. He opened 67 but his Friday 76 knocked him out. In 2010 he finished T3 and had all four rounds under par. Last week was his first tournament in five where he finished worse than T21 (T50) so I’ll take a look again this week.

Thorbjorn Olesen: The young Dane is playing quite well and bagged a T7 last week at API in his first event at Bay Hill. He’s not bothered by a big scene.

Off the Beaten Path

Either “horse-for-course” or guys off the radar

Michael Thompson: But Glass, he WON just a few weeks ago! I know, but after a big week of big names don’t forget he’s in the field and how well he can putt especially on slick greens like these. His nickname is “Slick” for a reason!

Louis Oosthuizen: He’s finished T16 and third in his last two starts here. He was last year’s 54-hole leader before he fell apart on the front nine on Sunday. He’s “down here” because he’s played two rounds of eight in the 60s on TOUR this year.

Chad Campbell: He’s made five cuts on the trot at SHO in the last five years so he’s quite comfortable in these here parts. He’s found the top 25 in three of those including T2 in 2008. Horse for course!

James Driscoll: In the last three events at SHO, Driscoll has finished T8, MC and T14 so he obviously likes rolling the rock on these slick greens. Driscoll’s form has been excellent ever since an anonymous contributor on our weekly chat suggested that we take a look at him. Hmmmmmmmm…

William McGirt: I’ll take a flier on a guy who shot the second best round of the day Sunday/Monday at API with 68 to finish T8 for his first top 10 since last July. Rid the hot hand? Sure!

Scott Brown: I’m not sure he can be off the radar anymore but his name will get lost in the “big” events. In his last three starts on TOUR, Brown finished T13 at API, T27 at Tampa and WON for the first time in Puerto Rico. He went from having limited status to a two-year exemption and has continued to play well. He’s 15th in the all-around. Yes, please!

Henrik Stenson: He’s finished T3 (2009) and T21 last year in his only two starts in Houston. He’s also coming off T8 last week at API.

John Merrick: He’s been MC and T60 since his win at the NTO but this is a course where only has five rounds over par in his five career starts. If you need a deep player to make a cut, there are worse options.

Johnson Wagner: He could have mailed it in after an opening round 76 last week but fought back on a tough course firing 71-69-71 to finish T27. He was T9 here in 2007 before winning in 2008 and has made five of six cuts.

Rookie of the Week Last Week

I keep an eye on the youngin’s each week to see who is making the most noise.

Ned Brown is a long-time contributor for Rotoworld Golf. He’s had documented success in Yahoo!’s game for years. Even if you’re confident in your selections for that game, give his insight a read. Ned also provides us with his GolfChannel.com Fantasy Challenge selections as well!

GROUP A

Phil Mickelson-- It was tempting to not use Mickelson this week after his missed cut at Bay Hill, but his recent record here of a win in '11 and a T4 last year is just too strong to ignore.

Rory McIlroy-- He finally looked like he broke his mini-slump last time out when he tied for eighth place at Doral and his fall to the number two spot in the OWGR should motivate him this week.

Steve Stricker-- His reduced schedule this year seems to agree with him because his worst finish this year is a T5, which was at the WGC-Accenture Match Play. He looked great in his second place finish at Doral, so I can't think of a reason not to start him this week.

Hunter Mahan-- He was near the top of the leaderboard last week until a final round of 75 dropped him into a tie for 21st place. His recent record in Houston is pretty strong with three top 10s in his last four starts, including a championship last year.

Keegan Bradley-- He looked good at Bay Hill, where he tied for third place, and he had success at the SHO last year with a T4 result.

Jimmy Walker-- He hasn't had a lot off success in the SHO, but he is playing so well right now that I think he is worth a shot this week.

Henrik Stenson-- He looked pretty good last week at Bay Hill, where he tied for eighth place, and he has a good record at the SHO, with a T3 in '09 and a T21 last year.

Lee Westwood-- I think this spot is a toss-up between Westwood and Jordan Spieth. Westwood should make the cut this week, but Spieth just earned a Special Temporary Membership on the TOUR after his T2 in Puerto Rico and his T7 in Tampa. I'm penciling Westwood for right now, but I might switch to Spieth on Wednesday evening.

And the analysis doesn't end here. Rotoworld's Rob Bolton and I will be co-hosting a one-hour live chat WEDNESDAY at NOON ET. We will be breaking down the field at the Shell Houston Open and answering your questions. Simply return to the golf home page to join in on the chatter.